Park Police Question 'Person of Interest' About July Assaults

U.S. Park Police secure the area around Francis Scott Key Park and the C&O Canal Aug. 13 and question a man who matched the description of one of the July assailants.

The United States Park Police questioned a person along the C&O Canal Aug. 13 around 4 p.m. The individual appeared to match the description of a suspect who sexually assaulted a woman near the canal in July. The pursuit brought out officers, detectives, members of the SWAT team and a K-9 team as well as a helicopter which circled above the vicinity of Key Bridge and the canal.

After the show of force, most Park Police officers left the scene as detectives continued to question the individual. Officers declined to say whether the "person of interest" was suspected of being involved in the July 25 incident along the Capital Crescent Trail where a female jogger was choked and molested in the area north of Three Sisters Island or the July 7 sexual assault where the suspect led the victim onto the C&O Canal towpath just off of 31st Street and pushed the victim down into the bushes. The victim was able to get away from the suspect.

One officer said he was grateful that the local media, including this newspaper, was getting the word out about the attacks and added that persons need to aware of their surroundings at all times and not be distracted by earplugs and the like. Parks after dark, another said, become different places, requiring everyone to be alert.

The police continue to seek the public's assistance on these assaults. Call the U.S. Park Police Communications Section at 202-610-7505, or the U.S. Park Police Tip Line 202-610-8737, reference case #12-33695. Also, call Detective Glenn Luppino, 202-610-8750; reference case #12-36735.